Style

Point of View

Richard Matheson uses first person perspective, switching between the various characters from one chapter to another. Despite this, the story is told in a very straight forward and understandable manner, and follows an easy to read sequence of events. Each chapter is outlined with a time reference and while the perspective switches, the character 'in charge' tells the story from their unique standpoint. As a result, the story is told from the perspective of a dedicated scientist who scoffs at the very idea of a spirit who remains behind after the body has died; his wife Edith who is terrified of all she hears and sees, but is determined to have faith in her husband; a Mentalist who had a church of her own and who is a devout believer in God and in the afterlife and spirit world; and a Spiritualist who not only...